Every housing association property will be checked for issues such as damp and mould and any problems fixed, a national body representing social housing providers has pledged following a review. The Better Social Housing Review called for housing associations to conduct and publish a “thorough audit” of all social homes across England.
Housing Secretary Michael Gove said he expects this to take place “as soon as possible”. The independent report, published on Tuesday, said poor quality social housing affects “too many” tenants, with damp, mould and condensation “the most prevalent and long-standing concerns”.
The National Housing Federation (NHF), which commissioned the review along with the Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH), said housing associations accept the recommendations “in their entirety”. It follows the death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak in December 2020 from a respiratory condition caused by mould in a one-bedroom housing association flat in Rochdale, Greater Manchester.
